My Japanese Childhood Friend Is Too Flirty

15. 16 years old, an age where sometimes, you end up with secrets you want to hide (1)

3rd Year, 2nd Semester, February.

A time that every student in South Korea experiences at least once, the floating period before becoming a real high school freshman.

Final exams were already long over, and with no classes at school and high school announcements completed, our Yeonhwa Middle School was in utter chaos, just moments away from complete anarchy.

Nominally, it was self-study time, but in reality, it was free time. Some students brought laptops and connected them to the blackboard monitor to play AOS games on a 70-inch screen, some were sleeping on their desks, and some even left school to hang out outside.

It was so bad that even our homeroom teacher, who usually didn’t interfere, felt it was a bit much and scolded us, saying, “Do you think you’re seniors who just finished the college entrance exam?” The atmosphere was, well, you get the idea.

But.

“Hmm…”

Amidst the chaos, I was solving math problems with a pen and eraser in hand.

It wasn’t because I had a high academic zeal or some grand goal that I was cutting down on playtime to focus on studying… Of course not.

It was just simple compensation.

I had a tutoring session with Ms. Kim Yuna this evening, and I hadn’t done the homework she assigned because I got swept up in the playful atmosphere with my friends and Aki.

Ms. Kim Yuna was making us preview the early parts of the sophomore curriculum because she thought we were learning fast, so the amount of homework was enormous. If I didn’t do it now, there was no way I could finish it all today.

“…Ah, this is hard.”

“Hey, are you studying even in this atmosphere? If a guy with your physical abilities also studies well, what are we supposed to do?”

Just as I was pondering over a difficult problem, a familiar voice came from beside me.

I glanced over, and sure enough, it was Jaehyun.

I put down my mechanical pencil slightly and replied bluntly.

“I’m not studying, I’m doing tutoring homework.”

“Tutoring? Oh, the one with that pretty college girl?”

“Hey, when did I ever…”

I said it like that. I just said it was something a college student did for me.

“What? What did the college girl do for you?”

“Joo Woo-joo is dating a college girl?!”

“Wow, Joo Woo-joo, you talented b*stard. How does a middle schooler live with a college girl?”

“……”

I tried to refute, but it was already too late.

The words “pretty college girl” that Jaehyun said for everyone to hear spread throughout the entire class in an instant, and before I could do anything, it was distorted and distorted into the baseless rumor that “Joo Woo-joo is living with a pretty college girl.”

“Sigh…”

I tried to respond but just let out a deep sigh.

If I say one word, they latch onto it like hyenas, so what can I say?

This isn’t the first time this has happened, and anyway, it’s obvious they won’t listen and will just say what they want, so I shook my head.

“Joo Woo-joo, is it true that you’re living with a pretty college girl?”

“Would it be true?”

“It wasn’t? With your looks, it’s totally possible, so I thought it was real.”

“Who knows. Maybe he really is and just hiding it.”

“Right, maybe when he goes home, the college girl has dinner ready and waiting for him? This b*stard always goes home alone when we ask him to hang out.”

“Hey Joo Woo-joo, be honest. You’re really living with a college girl, aren’t you?”

Like fish gathering around bait thrown into a calm lake, my friends gathered around me, each throwing in a word.

Looks like doing homework peacefully is out of the question…

To get rid of these hyenas quickly, I deliberately responded seriously.

“What do you mean you’re living with a college girl? You still live with your mom and dad.”

“Ugh, you’re such a stick-in-the-mud, so lame.”

“You’re supposed to play along and say you’re living together, even as a joke, Ju Woo-joo, your sense of humor’s gone to shit?”

“A sense is something that grows on a persimmon tree.”

“Wow, look at this lame joke, shit. Is Ju Woo-joo secretly an old geezer? How’d he get so many old man jokes?”

“It’s fine to joke, but it’s not funny, not moving, and has no common sense.”

“No, I really don’t get it. Why is Fuji-wara dating a dude who cracks these old man jokes? Are girls okay with anything if a guy’s just good-looking?”

“Ju Woo-joo is big, you know? I guess that’s why.”

“Ah…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

With one line thrown out, everyone’s eyes fixed on me.

No, not on me, but on my lower body.

“Yeah, I saw it in the bathroom once. He’s got something like a sweet potato the size of an arm.”

“You saw it too? Man, when I saw Ju Woo-joo’s, I thought he was part Black. No joke, I really didn’t think he was Korean.”

“Woo-joo, no offense or anything, but I’m genuinely curious, is your father or grandfather Black?”

“Dude, what nonsense are you talking about? They’re both Korean.”

“Shit, so it’s all pure genetics then.”

“Wait, Ju Woo-joo, you were dating that girl from the next class over?”

“Hey, you’re really dating that mixed-race girl, aren’t you?”

“Oh, her? I thought you were dating another girl. You two-timing b*stard.”

“Two-timing? He’s never even had a girlfriend before…”

I retorted sincerely, but my friend responded with a serious expression.

“Bullshit, you have to lie convincingly for people to believe you. Everyone knows you always hang out with that girl from the other class, and you’re saying you’re not dating?”

“Does hanging out mean you’re dating? Then I guess I’m dating all of you too?”

“That’s a ridiculous argument. How is that the same?”

“Can’t you see? You’re just saying weird stuff because you’d be embarrassed to admit you’re dating. You probably know it’s nonsense yourself.”

“Hey, Woojoo.”

Jaehyun dragged a chair from an empty desk and sat on it.

“I’m really curious, you always say you’re not dating Fujiwara-san when we ask. Why is that?”

“……”

I stared at Jaehyun.

I thought it was just another joke, but Jaehyun’s expression was quite serious.

He seemed genuinely curious. I guess I should answer seriously too.

After clearing my throat, I glanced at my friends who were waiting for my answer.

And then I said,

“……Well, because we’re really not dating?”

“Oh, come on.”

“Here we go again. This sneaky b*stard.”

“Figures, I thought he was actually being serious this time with that damn serious face. What a moron I am for believing Joo-joo.”

“The greatest loser of this era, just JOAT Joo-joo.”

“I’m telling you, it’s real…”

“Hey, Joo-joo. Then answer this one for real.”

Jaehyun’s friend, who was next to him, tapped the desk to get everyone’s attention.

I nodded, meaning, *go ahead.*

Then, the friend glanced around, checking everyone’s eyes, and whispered quietly.

“You, how far did you go with your girlfriend? Honestly, for real.”

“Woah, this is what I’m really curious about.”

“Didn’t Woojoo and her date for like, over 3 years?”

“3 years? Then they’ve definitely done it all.”

“Hey, have you done it?”

“……”

“Joo-joo, answer.”

“Uh, you’re not gonna talk? This dude’s sus, huh?”

“Agh, this is so damn frustrating. Hey, say something!”

“No, goddamn it, don’t just smile, answer! Does this b*stard want to watch me die from frustration-.”

──DING~ DONG~ DANG~ DONG~

The school bell rang at just the right moment.

I got up from my seat.

“Huh? Hey, Joo Woo-joo! Why are you getting up?”

“I’m going outside, class is over, isn’t it?”

“Hey, even if you’re leaving, you should say something before you go! So, did you do it or not?”

My friends, who were gathered around me, looked up at me with eyes that seemed more bewildered than surprised.

Ignoring all their gazes, I said one word.

“Yeah, not telling.”

“…What?”

Immediately, I quickly left the spot and dashed towards the back door.

My friends stared at me blankly, then belatedly came to their senses and jumped up to follow me.

“Hey, hey, catch that guy!”

“Wow, is he really a lunatic or what?”

“This crazy guy, if I catch him, I’ll twist his ankle 360 degrees-!”

* * *

After school, during tutoring time.

“Yeah, you solved it well? Then that’s it for today. Both Woo-joo and Aki, you did a great job!”

With Kim Yoon-ah’s closing remarks, the two-hour tutoring session ended.

Smiling as if to say we did well, Kim Yoon-ah skillfully packed up the materials and stood up first. Aki and I quickly tidied up our places and followed her down to the first floor to see her off.

“Teacher, thank you for your hard work. Goodbye.”

“Thank you, Yoon-ah teacher!”

“Yeah, see you next week~”

Beep, click-.

“…Has she left, Woojoo-chan?”

“Yeah, I hear footsteps. She’s gone downstairs.”

“Phew…”

As soon as we realized that Teacher Kim Yuna had gone home, Aki and I sighed simultaneously.

The reason we’re acting like this, even though we haven’t done anything wrong, is simple.

Because of our individual circumstances, neither Aki nor I managed to finish the homework Teacher Kim Yuna assigned us. Fortunately, she seemed to have forgotten about it and didn’t check, but we were nervous that she might find out.

“I’m glad we got away with it… The teacher is scary when she’s angry.”

She hadn’t gotten angry once in the two years we’ve known her, but last year, when I forgot to do my homework, she blew up.

I’ve said it before, but people who don’t usually get angry are scarier when they do. Aki and I, who know this well from experience, were really tense.

“Let’s make sure to do our homework next time, Woojoo-chan…”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“…Now that I’m relaxed, I’m hungry. Woojoo-chan, do you want a snack?”

“A snack? Wait a minute, I’ll go to the living room and see if there’s anything to eat.”

“No, Woojoo-chan, stay in the room. I’ll go get it.”

“But it’s my house, I should go. You go upstairs first, I’ll be right up.”

“No, Woojoo-chan, stay in the room. I’ll find it and bring it.”

“But it’s my house, I should go. You go upstairs first, I’ll be right up.”

“Oh… okay. But come quickly, Woojoo-chan? I’ll be waiting!”

Aki, who now refers to herself as “Atashi” (あたし) instead of “Watashi” (わたし), cutely walks up to the second floor.

I watched his back silently until Aki’s silhouette was no longer visible, then moved to the living room.

“Mom, is there anything to eat at home?”

“Something to eat? There’s plenty. We have cookies, should I bring them with some milk?”

“Please put them on a tray. I’ll take it myself.”

“So, you’re going to take care of your girl yourself now? Alright, I won’t intrude.”

“……”

I said I’d take it myself to save her the trouble, but she had to make a comment.

I pretended not to hear and fiddled with the magnet on the fridge.

“Here you go, my son. Everything’s ready.”

“Ah, thank you, Mom.”

“Thank you? We’re family. …Oh, by the way, Woojoo?”

Just as I was about to take the tray upstairs, Mom stopped me with her words.

I turned my head slightly to look back, and she was gazing at me with a worried expression.

“You know that your dad and I will be working at the U.S. Embassy starting in March, right? Are you really okay with that?”

I was about to answer, “I know,” but hesitated.

The meaning behind “Are you really okay with that?” was whether I was okay with not following them to the U.S. Embassy.

“Um…”

I decided not to follow my parents to the U.S. in March this year and stay in Korea alone. The reasons for that decision are long and complicated, so let’s skip that for now.

Anyway, since it was already a settled matter, I replied nonchalantly.

“It’s fine. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Just because you’re tall, does that make you an adult? You have to be able to take responsibility for yourself to be an adult. Woojoo, you’re still a child, a child.”

“Ah, there you go again. I get it, I’m a child.”

Having heard it more than once, I responded skillfully. But Mom still seemed very worried, anxiously rubbing her chin.

“With Iroha and Sumimoto-san nearby, and if we send you enough living expenses, there shouldn’t be a big problem… Woojoo, are you really okay living alone starting next month? Can you take care of your meals?”

“Yes, don’t worry. I can manage on my own.”

“Woojoo, why don’t you just stay with Mom and Dad…”

“I’ll be fine, Mom!”

I quickly got up and left, thinking I’d hear more unnecessary words if I stayed.

I heard Mom’s voice behind me, “Woojoo, don’t do that, think it over again~!” but I pretended not to hear.

I went straight up to the second floor and knocked on my door.

“Aki, I brought some food.”

Even though it’s my house, I knock for a simple reason.

Mom said that even if we’re comfortable with each other, or rather because we’re comfortable, we should respect each other’s boundaries to maintain a long-lasting relationship.

“What, not here?”

Anyway, I knocked on the door a couple of times, but there was no response.

Thinking he might be in the bathroom, I put down the tray and carefully turned the handle to open the door.

“Oh.”

I saw Aki’s back, sitting in front of my computer desk.

It looked like he was searching for something on the computer, but what was he doing?

‘…Wait a minute, did he not notice?’

Stopped, mid-step, about to approach.

He was so engrossed, not even noticing me coming in, and a mischievous idea sparked in me.

Perfect opportunity.

I should sneak up and startle him.

‘…don’t make a sound.’

I tiptoed closer.

Quiet as a mouse, really without making a single noise, tiptoeing. Even I was surprised by how silently I could move, holding my breath as I approached.

Then, finally, I could see the monitor screen in front of Aki’s eyes.

Aki was watching some kind of video.

A video where most of the screen was filled with bare skin.

‘…huh?!’

What is this?

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

The fact that Aki was watching *that* kind of video on my computer was shocking enough, but there was something even more shocking.

It was that the video Aki was watching right now was the same one I watched just yesterday.

You know. The one with the actress who looked oddly like Aki, wearing a blindfold and gag, getting roughly manhandled by the male actor──.

“…no, way.”

How the hell did he find this?

Beyond simply surprised, I was gobsmacked, and my body recoiled before I could think.

Which of course, meant a rustling sound was unavoidable.

“`

“…….”

“…….”

My gaze met Aki’s in midair.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

“……Uju~chan.”

“……Uh, huh?”

“What is this…?”

“…….”

The greatest crisis of my life had arrived.