How Do Will I Do?_______________________
As usual, for the past two loops, Sohee asks if I'm feeling well and advises me to take deep breaths. She even suggests that I visit the nurse if things don't improve. Little does she know, I've already met the nurse who's responsible for making me feel this way.
A terrifying sensation of dying from her pill creeps back up in my chest. It's dreadful, even though it doesn't hurt. It's like plunging into an ocean and going unconscious before you even taste the water. And then, suddenly, you're back. Gosh, dying makes anyone crazy afterward.
Sohee's concerned doe eyes are still on me, so I try to reassure her. "Don't worry, Sohee. You go in first."
"But what about you, Sunbae?"
I force a smile. "It's no good to start off with this... anxiety, haha. I'm just going to take five minutes to prepare. I have to make a good first impression, after all." And thanks to my self-appointed assistant—though she acts like one even without me asking. I suspect she has an ulterior motive and I don't care, she's been helpful most of the cases.
Sohee stifles a chuckle behind her hand. "Ah yes, Sunbae. I wish you the best of luck for that five minutes."
We nod to each other and walk in opposite directions. I need to find a toilet—not even sure if I can use the students' one, so I'll have to ask where the teachers' one is.
How will I handle the recognition session this time?
What made them say no last time?
Shizuka will vote based on Carrie's answer. If Carrie says no, Shizuka will go with yes. They're not exactly close. Carrie just didn't like me from the moment she laid eyes on me. Maybe it's my noobish face—one she has yet to describe clearly. That's one reason I need to find a toilet.
Mei voted no, blaming her androphobia. Sadly, there's nothing I can do about that. If you hate spiders, the only way to get rid of them is to kill every spider in the world. Changing your perception would take a loooong time, probably until the next eruption of Mt. Etna. I've only got three hours in this loop—that's two whole ass movies.
Then there's Claire. She doesn't seem to care whether I'm her tutor or not. Hard to connect with someone who sleeps through everything and barely says ten words before leaving. That's fine—she's neutral in this vote. So I don't have to worry about her.
So, scratching off Mei, only Shizuka and Carrie are the problem. They repel each other like oil and water. Claire's disinterest is the only clue here. She likes challenges, but the others won't let her take risks easily. Even if I get lucky and Carrie votes yes, how will I handle Shizuka? I anticipate she'll change her vote to no.
As I drag myself down the hallway, I nearly collide with a girl from last time, stumbling under a pile of books.
"H-Hey, watch where you're going…oh, are you a visitor from a nearby school?" Her eyes scan the hallway. "Oh! I'm so sorry, you must be the new tutor…"
I cut to the chase. "Where's the teachers' toilet?"
She blinks, a bit thrown by my directness. "Ah, um, there's one on this floor, just down there." She points to the right.
"Thanks."
"No problem—ah, I must hurry, bye!" She dashes off, and something slips from her pocket.
This time, I crouch to inspect it. A deck of playing cards—52 of them. I pocket the deck, feeling like a thief in an escape room game. Don't worry, I would return it to her if I'd ever see her again, for now I might need this.
When I reach the toilet, the mirror reflects a pale-faced young man with almond-shaped eyes. Hey, at least I had the most attractive eyes in my old world. Who knows what counts here? Everyone seems to have unique eye colors. I'm still skeptical about whether they're contact lenses.
So this is the face that charmed Sohee. Despite these features, Carrie still calls me noobish. Maybe it's slang or something. I dig into my pocket and find a phone. Seriously? I never noticed this before—probably because trying to call someone is the last thing I'd think about. I try to search up "noobish," but I'm blocked by a damn lock screen.
This is troublesome. I don't even know the password. I try 1234, 1111, and 0000, only to be locked out for 15 seconds. I give up. I guess I'll never know what "noobish" means. Maybe I'll ask Sohee…or maybe not. She'd probably think I'm joking and advise me to keep things relevant.
I wash my face to cool my head. Oh, it's been over five minutes. Not that Sohee's expecting me to show up on time…on second thought, she probably is.
My fingers touch the deck of cards. An idea hits me—I am immortal. With that in mind, I walk out.
I keep my mind steady as I walk back to the girls at.
I open the door, and Sohee greets me with a tired look. "It's been twelve minutes and thirty-three seconds, Sunbae."
I apologize and sit down.
The introduction phase begins. It goes the same as every other time.
After Claire slams the door, signaling the end of our introductions, Sohee claps her hands, shifting to the next phase. "Then we can begin the recognition session."
I don't hesitate. I look at the three girls. "I want to be your tutor."
Mei twitches, and Shizuka chuckles, giving me a smug look. "You've thought about this, did you?"
Carrie grunts, still upset that her earphones are in Sohee's pocket and blaming me for it. "I vote no."
"Then I'll go with yes," Shizuka says, stretching her arms above her head.
Mei follows, "I'm, I'm sorry, Sohee, but I have to vote n-no."
Sohee tries to convince them and fails miserably again. I didn't expect anything to change, anyway.
Sohee looks at me with slightly wet eyes. "I'm sorry, Sunbae."
But before I can reassure her, Carrie speaks up.
"Heh, try anything you want, Sohee, but that noobish face never stood a chance."
…Ah, I never heard that last time.
Well, it's both good and bad. The good is, I have the chance to ask what's been bothering me since I stared at the mirror. Now or never. "What's a noobish face?"
The bad thing is I won't know what to expect anymore.
Sohee shrugs.
Carrie laughs mockingly. "Wahaha, you don't know what a noobish face is? Look at yourself on a black computer monitor screen after this. Yeah, you've got the face of someone who's lost every thing and will continue to do so."
Why is she so rude...
I say, "What if I prove you wrong?"
"This again?" Claire studies me, deciding if I'm worthy of a challenge. "How would you do that, anyway?"
I thought Sohee would interrupt us to keep things relevant, but she doesn't. Maybe she's hoping I have a plan. If so, she's right. I do have a plan.
And it's going to be one suicidal plan—one that recycles itself, just like me. I can build a mountain of my own dead bodies.
Sohee tugs my sleeve. "Sunbae…you—what are you planning?"
I can feel my mouth stretches up.