Song Yong-ho, a third-year student at Yeonhwa High School, visited the school auditorium late at night.
The CSATs were over, and he had almost no reason to come to school anymore, yet he went out of his way to visit.
The reason went without saying.
'I have to stream this no matter what!'
Song Yong-ho was a so-called internet streamer.
Earlier this year, he was the smallest of the small-time streamers, but the video he took on
This was because, at the time, Song Yong-ho was virtually the only one who captured the raw, unedited reaction.
He even streamed it live, exactly as it happened.
Because of that, he later received a warning from the broadcasting station, but since he was a student, they let it slide with leniency.
Fortunately, the viral video only gained attention after the variety show had already been broadcast.
Thus becoming famous, he was now an internet streamer with 100,000 subscribers.
He planned to dedicate himself solely to internet broadcasting once he graduated from high school.
"I received a tip that our school's first-years are having an end-of-year party today. You know, right? Our school, Yeonhwa High."
- Where's that?
- Don't know that trash school.
- Isn't Yeonhwa High a humanities school but strong in arts and sports?
- I heard recently they're taking an arts high school route.
"Yes, yes, yes, that's right. And, you know, right? My video, the video!"
At Song Yong-ho's words, viewers who belatedly recalled
- That's the high school with Joo Seo-yeon, right?
- Do high schoolers these days have end-of-year parties too??? So fucking jealous;;
- High schoolers not studying and having parties instead hahaha
The reaction was more lukewarm than expected.
Well, among internet viewers, there were many who had absolutely no interest in celebrities.
The fact that there was any reaction at all was because many of the viewers who made Yong-ho famous came in through
"So, I sneaked in by telling the teacher I'd help out with the work."
- Did you tell them you're streaming?
"I didn't get permission for that, but it should be fine, right?"
- What a total thug bastard
"Ahem, a thug? This is all an implicit agreement! An implicit agreement, I tell you!"
In reality, they probably expected it to some extent.
Given Seo-yeon's presence, even if it wasn't Song Yong-ho, there would be countless people who'd film and upload a video.
Well, whether it was Song Yong-ho's self-rationalization or not, anyway.
Although he received some hate during
"First, I need to help out, so I'll turn off the stream and turn it back on when Joo Seo-yeon appears."
- ?
- Aren't you filming the other kids?
"I don't film ordinary people, I don't."
Saying that, Song Yong-ho turned off the stream.
He had to help out anyway, so there was no point in keeping it on.
'Then, when will she come?'
She wouldn't just not come, right?
Just as Song Yong-ho gathered his anxious mind and tried to enter the school.
'What's that, reporters?'
Song Yong-ho widened his eyes as he saw men approaching the school.
They were each carrying fancy cameras.
It didn't look like they came secretly; they were entering under the guidance of the teachers.
'Ah, for publicity.'
Since they were holding this event anyway, it was clear they intended to post articles about it.
That way, rumors about Yeonhwa High School would spread around.
'See.'
They clearly allowed it knowing he would be internet streaming.
Even schools need publicity these days.
For Yeonhwa High School, which was already being overshadowed by prestigious high schools nearby, it was necessary to use this opportunity for publicity somehow.
'Well, it's better than I thought.'
The auditorium lights, which would normally be off, were brightly and colorfully lit, and a fairly decent placard was hanging at the entrance.
Yeonhwa High School, 1st Year End-of-Year Party.
It was about to begin in earnest.
***
"Da-hyun, when is Seo-yeon coming?"
"Is Seo-yeon really coming today?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Da-hyun answered the question she had heard countless times today and sighed.
'Everyone is really interested.'
The auditorium was packed with first-year students.
The end-of-year party prepared by the school—honestly, it was an event almost no one would attend, yet the students were filling the auditorium.
Furthermore, reporters and teachers were present in the upper part of the auditorium, with some occasionally taking photos.
'I heard about it, but they're more serious than I thought.'
Gil Da-hyun clicked her tongue.
The school had informed the students in advance that this event would be used for publicity.
She had heard that reporters might come, but she didn't expect this many.
Some female reporter was even scanning her surroundings sharply with fierce eyes.
As if searching for someone.
'She must be looking for Seo-yeon too.'
Now she could roughly tell.
The reporters hadn't come for the school's publicity, but to film Seo-yeon.
Of course, the school had clearly permitted it because even that would serve as publicity.
'I did tell her to wear proper party attire…….'
Da-hyun had rarely seen Seo-yeon in casual clothes.
Because Seo-yeon always tended to wear her school uniform.
That was why she had emphasized party attire several times.
Of course, there wasn't much special about party attire for a high school student.
Still, since the concept was based on the Prom, commonly known as a graduation party in the US or Canada, the outfits looked somewhat dressed up.
Generally, a Promenade refers to the graduation dance party held in American high schools.
Of course, the people gathered here were first-years, and graduation was still a long way off, but it probably meant they wanted to create that kind of atmosphere to some extent.
If the response was good, the third-years this year might actually do it for real.
Since the auditorium was already decorated, after all.
"Gil Da-hyun."
Just then, an unfamiliar voice reached Da-hyun's ears.
Turning her gaze, Lee Ji-yeon, wearing a simple red dress, was standing there.
Leading her group.
'Isn't she a delinquent?'
It was to the point where that thought crossed her mind unintentionally.
Of course, real delinquent groups would run away screaming if they made eye contact with Lee Ji-yeon.
Thinking about that, Da-hyun couldn't help but be suspicious.
Even if they were both celebrities, if such a kid hung out with Seo-yeon, there was a concern that Seo-yeon's image would unnecessarily suffer as well.
So she subtly asked the other kids.
"Those were the kids who picked a fight with Lee Ji-yeon in middle school."
"So they got into a fight with this Ji-yeon kid?"
"Hmm, if I had to say, it's a bit different."
"I heard a rumor that they were all thrown by the short-haired girl next to Ji-yeon at the time."
"Short-haired girl?"
It felt a bit strange to just think of her as Ji-yeon's friend.
Above all, hearing the word 'thrown' reminded her of someone.
"There aren't many kids from that middle school in our school, so I'm not sure, but……."
"Some say someone tried to stop them and got pushed over, and others say she chased them down and pulverized the delinquents. There are just too many baseless rumors."
"Really? Do you know who it is by any chance?"
"Yeah, I only heard she was a short-haired girl who always wore a black mask. She was always on her phone, so it seems like no one really saw her face?"
Da-hyun thought.
'She sounds kind of like Seo-yeon?'
Did Seo-yeon hang out with a rough crowd in middle school or something?
But it didn't feel like that either.
As she kept listening, her position was a bit ambiguous.
Should I say it felt like a quiet kid always sticking by her delinquent friend.
"Hey, I want to ask you something."
While Da-hyun was lost in such thoughts, Lee Ji-yeon spoke again.
"Do you know where Joo Seo-yeon is?"
"Huh? Seo-yeon?"
At the mention of Seo-yeon, Ji-yeon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I heard, but are you really friends with Joo Seo-yeon?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah, I am. But why?"
"Because there are hardly any kids who call Joo Seo-yeon so casually."
Saying that, Ji-yeon gave off a strangely sulky vibe.
As if she didn't like the situation where her friends kept increasing besides herself?
'Nah, no way.'
Ji-yeon already had plenty of friends around her.
Though she wasn't sure if they were real friends or just a gang.
"Anyway, it seems Seo-yeon hasn't arrived yet. At least as far as I know, no one has seen her yet."
"Really? Hmm, got it. I came early because I was worried, but she's late herself……."
"Huh?"
"Ah, it's nothing."
Muttering to herself, Ji-yeon disappeared with a slightly uncomfortable expression.
At her reaction, Da-hyun was also inwardly curious about a few things, but couldn't bring herself to ask.
After all, the two weren't close enough to have talked that much anyway.
'I need to hurry up and do the things the teacher told me to do.'
Anyway, Da-hyun was busy.
Why she was suffering like this just because they decided to hold an end-of-year party.
"Gil Da-hyun, didn't you dress a bit too plainly?"
A female student wearing what was obviously an expensive outfit spoke to her.
She was a female student who had known Da-hyun since middle school and had been picking faults with her over everything since then.
Her name was probably Jung Ha-jin.
'You're the one who overdressed.'
Da-hyun let out a hollow laugh as she looked at Jung Ha-jin.
It wasn't extremely flashy, but how should I say, it was clearly an expensive designer outfit.
An outfit that wouldn't look out of place at a real prom.
'I heard she became an idol trainee.'
Her skills weren't bad either, so there were rumors she'd debut soon.
She was clearly a girl who competed with her for grades in middle school, but Da-hyun wondered if she had this kind of vibe back then.
"It's not good to look too much like a nerd, right? Besides, there's a dance party later, right?"
"That's right."
"Heh, not bad. There are plenty of reporters here, too."
It seemed she was planning to subtly appeal "I'm here too!" taking advantage of the reporters' visit today.
"Tell me when Joo Seo-yeon comes."
"Why?"
"Why else? I'm thinking of getting close to her on this occasion."
She spoke to Da-hyun as if boasting.
And her gaze was one that inwardly looked down on Da-hyun.
Of course, that didn't matter.
What bothered Da-hyun was something else.
"That's not hard to do, but……."
"If it's not hard, then what?"
"I just wonder if it means anything to stand next to her."
"What?"
At Da-hyun's words, the other's face crumpled.
Was she picking a fight?
Or an inferiority complex toward her, who was wearing luxurious clothes unlike herself?
Or her looks?
Anyway, from Jung Ha-jin's perspective, it was a very offensive remark.
"What are you talking about right now……."
Just as she was saying that.
The auditorium began to bustle in a strange way.
Some were shocked by what they saw, and what sounded like a shriek-like cheer erupted and then faded.
"What's going on?"
Jung Ha-jin also noticed it late and turned her gaze away from glaring at Da-hyun.
Following the crowd of students rushing somewhere in an instant, it wasn't hard to find the cause of the commotion.
"……!!"
There stood a girl in a pitch-black dress.
Her black hair was neatly swept back, revealing white ears adorned with red earrings.
And a necklace embedded with a red ruby that seemed to be a set with those earrings.
There wasn't much exposure, but it was undeniably a fancy dress.
Like a dress one would wear to an awards ceremony.
The dress, which fell below the knees, had a wide skirt that swayed gracefully every time Seo-yeon's long legs moved.
It was as if a magnificent black rose was blooming in the auditorium.
It was an excessively glamorous dress, but given Seo-yeon's appearance, it didn't look out of place at all.
"Uh, u-uh?"
Jung Ha-jin opened her mouth as she saw Seo-yeon walking toward them.
Why is she coming this way?
Should I run away?
No, I was going to talk to her.
As Seo-yeon walked, the reporters waiting in the auditorium started firing their flashes all at once.
At that sound, Jung Ha-jin came to her senses, but she couldn't think of how to react at all.
Should I quickly go up and link arms with her?
Her original plan was to act like best friends to raise her own profile.
Even if they weren't close at school, as long as the article portrayed it that way, it would unconditionally benefit her popularity.
But her feet wouldn't move.
As the red eyes walked toward her, it felt like it became harder to breathe.
Expressionless and cold.
How could she dare, to Seo-yeon, whose face was stiffer than usual.
"Did something happen, Seo-yeon?"
Yet Gil Da-hyun, whom she had just been looking down on endlessly, calmly spoke to Seo-yeon.
At those words, Seo-yeon, who had been walking while looking at her, belatedly turned her gaze to Da-hyun.
And.
"……I think I wore the wrong clothes."
She was finally able to confess her true feelings she had felt while coming here.
***
The moment Seo-yeon felt something was wrong was when she arrived at the auditorium.
The outfits of the students entering the auditorium were more ordinary than she expected.
Just before getting out of the van, her manager Park Eun-ha cautiously asked.
"Seo-yeon, didn't they say party attire?"
"……They did."
"It is party attire, but the dress code is a bit, like, a different vibe?"
What Seo-yeon was wearing right now was a dress fancy enough to wear to an awards ceremony.
Actually, to be precise, it wasn't originally this fancy.
It was just a similar vibe to the dress she wore when she went to the party with Jo Seo-hee before.
But as she tried them on, Seo-yeon got unnecessarily excited.
And the stylist who was helping her pick out clothes also got a bit carried away.
'I am pretty.'
So, by the time Seo-yeon, who had fallen into such narcissism, came to her senses, she had already put on a dress like this.
To some extent, she brought it upon herself.
Of course, Park Eun-ha, who had enthusiastically applauded next to the narcissistic Joo Seo-yeon, was not without fault either.
From the side, "It's so pretty, how about this? How about this?"
She was the one who kept recommending them.
"T-That's right! If you think that today Seo-yeon is the main character of this party!!"
Of course, Seo-yeon had no desire whatsoever to be the main character.
She just planned to wear something moderately fitting and come.
And so, currently.
Walking through the auditorium looking only straight ahead, Seo-yeon couldn't bring herself to look around and see what kind of gazes were on her.
Her gaze was fixed solely on Gil Da-hyun, who was visible straight ahead.
But there was an unfamiliar female student next to her.
Since Seo-yeon was shy around strangers, seeing a female student she didn't know naturally drew her gaze.
Who is that. I wish she'd go somewhere else…….
Having come with roughly that thought in mind, Seo-yeon was barely able to confess the truth to Da-hyun.
That she had misunderstood what clothes to wear today.
"Ah, Seo-yeon, your ears are red?"
"~~~~!!"
Seo-yeon hurriedly covered her ears and lowered her head.
It seemed it wasn't just her eyes that turned red from embarrassment.
And.
Click!!
The camera flashes went off again, right at that moment.