What's the biggest difference between people who like fish and those who don't?
There might be various opinions, but I think it's whether you can skillfully remove fish bones or not.
What I mean is, Kim Minsu can't remove fish bones for you, but I can.
"Hairtail has a lot of bones, so it's tasty but hard to eat."
"I'll remove the bones for you, Yumin."
"Oh, uh? You don't have to..."
"No, it's fine. It's better to do it together while I'm at it anyway."
At Victory's cafeteria, when ordering for two or more people, the food comes together and in larger portions than individual orders.
Most importantly, it comes on one plate.
Since Kim Minsu hated fish, he ordered food from a different floor.
While he's bringing it up, it's just Yumin and me!
It was the perfect environment for some mischief.
"Um... if there's anything you don't know about the academy, feel free to ask. You just awakened recently, right?"
I had anticipated this too.
So Yumin was an outgoing, lively girl, commonly known as an "insider" type.
For such a girl to remain silent while removing fish bones? That didn't make sense.
Given that she offered to guide me after school, predicting this kind of conversation was too easy.
"Ah... there is something, but... it seems too personal... I was wondering if I could ask."
"What is it?"
With a briefly hesitant expression, Yumin puts some braised hairtail on my rice.
Others might find it burdensome, but Baek Taeyang's face makes it all understandable.
He's handsome and comfortable to be around.
"Do people date in the academy too?"
"Huh? Uh... I guess... they do?"
My visible surprise actually made me the flustered one.
I thought I'd handle this naturally, but she was more timid than she looked.
"What do you think?"
"W-well? What about you, Taeyang? You seem like you've dated a lot..."
Her eyes darting around showed how flustered she was to anyone watching.
Glancing to the side, I see Kim Minsu approaching. The timing wasn't bad.
"Me? I don't mind dating... honestly, as long as it's not secret dating, it's all fine..."
Eight steps until Kim Minsu sits at the table.
Now is the perfect time to plant seeds of doubt.
"Why secret dating?!"
Suddenly, Yumin's voice rises. This was unexpected.
'Why is she suddenly shouting?'
Attention turns to us, and a startled Kim Minsu quickly sits next to Yumin.
"What's going on?"
Judging by Kim Minsu's expression, it seemed like I had done something wrong.
'Your girlfriend is the one who shouted, why are you looking at me...'
Since Yumin had shouted, giving Kim Minsu an excuse to join the conversation, he eagerly jumped in.
"What were you talking about?"
"Ah, we were discussing reasons for secret dating."
"R-really?"
As soon as secret dating is mentioned, he buffers like a computer.
In that gap, I put more braised hairtail on Yumin's rice and continue the conversation.
"Honestly, there's only one reason a guy suggests secret dating, right Minsu?"
"Huh? W-what is it? Isn't it just because you want to cherish the relationship...?"
His eyes dart around, clearly unprepared for this topic.
I thought they might be dating because they had a lot in common.
The sharp gaze he had just five minutes ago has completely disappeared, replaced by pitiful goat-like eyes.
He sends a subtle look as if asking for agreement with his words...
I casually ignored it.
"It's because they're embarrassed, right? About their partner's face or something... or maybe they're trying to cheat?"
The very fact of secret dating means there are many vulnerabilities.
Unless something is lacking, there's no need to hide.
If dating isn't prohibited in the academy, why hide it?
"You guys are innate awakened, so you probably don't know since you didn't go to regular school, but..."
Yumin and Kim Minsu listened attentively as if my words were law.
To be precise, Yumin's ears were fixed on me while her eyes were on Minsu.
This was Minsu who had emphasized male friendship, saying it's more comfortable among guys.
From the moment I opened my mouth, it was already stamped as "So this is how all guys think to some extent..."
"...That's usually what secret dating means, right? Why hide that you're dating, it's weird. Don't you think?"
"N-no, that's not it!"
This time, Kim Minsu's decibels rise.
It's not like they're acting from a script, but their behavior is identical.
This must be why they say birds of a feather flock together.
But even if he raised his voice, why suddenly stand up?
Aren't you going to get kicked out while eating?
'This is why virgin protagonists are really... 'real'...'
Seeming to realize how embarrassing it was, Minsu quickly sat down and started making excuses earnestly.
At first, he spoke while looking at me, but later his gaze was fixed entirely on Yumin.
"It's just... if we suddenly reveal everything... it might be... embarrassing?"
"Why be embarrassed between lovers, it's just shameful... Like you're a bit... lacking somewhere to show off?"
Of course, I've never experienced it so I'm not sure, but isn't that what most kids do? It's really trashy, right?
I had to add that last part.
Strongly emphasizing the 'Other guys are like that, but not me' part greatly increases likability.
You need to give the impression of a straightforward man who treats women well despite looking rough on the outside.
"I... I've never thought like that, not even once. Yu-Yumin, it's true."
He was the one who first suggested secret dating, yet he was showing it off more than anyone.
Even the dumbest person would know who's dating whom by this point.
'Why does he insist on secret dating?'
Actually, I briefly saw during class that when Kim Minsu looked at Yumin, honey was practically dripping from his eyes.
'So probably... later he'll go "Let's date!" and reveal it, and the rest of the kids will nod and say "Oh, you're finally telling us"... that kind of development?'
Going further, there might even be someone causing a scene like "Was I... was I the only one who didn't know?" and "Since when have you been dating!"... It was all so predictable.
'Now that will never happen, Minsu.'
Yumin staring blankly at Minsu without saying anything, and Kim Minsu desperately trying to explain that secret dating doesn't mean that.
It was already over at this point.
Now was the time to express how much you love her, not discuss the pros and cons of secret dating.
His lack of dating experience was showing clearly.
If you can't do that, you should at least change the subject dramatically by kissing her lips or something, but he's just endlessly explaining the intention behind secret dating...
'Yumin is too good for him...'
It doesn't make sense that hip and thigh sizes rare for Asians should be wasted on a guy like that.
Just looking at our uniform pants, I was a left-tucked black mamba while he was a centered parakeet.
In a fight between a parakeet and a black mamba, isn't the winner already decided?
"Why are you explaining so desperately, Minsu? Girls don't understand... There's that thing between guys, right? Let's just eat quickly."
You should never completely extinguish an urgent fire.
Pretending to put it out while leaving some embers makes it easier to use later.
They both seemed to feel it was a bit much to have a lover's quarrel in the cafeteria, so after some conversation, they started eating.
Actually, it could hardly be called a conversation.
Minsu was the only one talking one-sidedly, while Yumin just stared intently.
Honestly, nothing would change just by creating discord over this.
It was a common lover's quarrel in the early stages of dating, and if they reconciled, it often created an even stronger bond.
If the story had followed its original flow, it might have been an opportunity for Minsu to grow by changing from secret dating to open dating.
That wouldn't happen now.
The only path left for Kim Minsu was utter destruction.
+++++++++++++
"Well then, everyone worked hard today. Don't let your guard down just because classes are over, always focus on training. That's all."
"Thank you."
Finally, all classes were over.
Victory Academy ran like high school classes, but the difference was that 8 periods were standard.
'I don't understand any of it, forcing myself to listen is really absurd.'
It felt like an elementary school student suddenly learning Physics 2.
'How could that work?'
I prioritized sleeping during class time and prevented Minsu and Yumin from resolving their misunderstanding during breaks.
I stuck close to Kim Minsu, befriending his group, and blocked him every time he tried to go to Yumin's side when I blinked.
It was very tiring to stop him as he whined like a dog desperate to pee, wanting to quickly reconcile.
And the result of all that hard work of checking?
"Taeyang, let's go."
It was excellent.
Yumin hadn't made eye contact with Kim Minsu even once since lunchtime. She didn't smile either.
With a cold face, anyone could see she was very angry.
It was important to clear up misunderstandings quickly.
But a boyfriend who doesn't speak first even once while being in the same class, and just plays with his friends?
Could misunderstandings be resolved while seeing that behavior?
'She'll probably think he can't explain because it's all true'
Imagination was what ruined relationships.
I stood up from my seat and stood next to Yumin.
I see Kim Minsu waiting at the back door of the classroom, apparently having promised to go home together originally.
'Is he thinking of forcibly joining us and walking as three?'
Does he think such a shallow trick will work?
Should I explain what we talked about at lunchtime? Just the two of us.
I whispered close enough for my breath to touch her ear.
The most important thing for Yumin right now wasn't that she was physically close to another man.
It was hearing about the 'something' between men regarding secret dating.
Her boyfriend waiting? She could see it pitifully.
She might feel sorry and want to reconcile, but her heart would already be elsewhere.
'Why did he suggest secret dating?'
This would be maddeningly curious for her.
As expected, Yumin nodded and said let's go somewhere just the two of us.
"Kim Minsu, don't think about following. Go ahead first."
At Yumin's firm words, Kim Minsu's feet, which were about to secretly follow, stop.
He suddenly froze like a cryogenically preserved person, which suited him very well.
'Minsu'
Kim Minsu's expression as he watched this scene from beginning to end made it impossible to hold back laughter.
Actually, there was no need to hold back anymore.
Yumin was no longer looking at my expression.
She was just walking straight ahead, eager to hear the story quickly.
"See you tomorrow, Minsu"
I smiled brightly towards Minsu.