The Mage Who Went to High School: Chapter 5
Tyler and his gang stood frozen, staring blankly as we walked away. The tense atmosphere that had been ready to explode just moments before had evaporated, comically, with the appearance of Kevin's mom. The frustration of their thwarted plans and their childish pride, which prevented them from acting out in front of an adult, turned their faces bright red. Tyler spat on the ground and shot a hateful look at my back.
I flinched slightly at the soft warmth on my arm. It was a foreign, yet undeniable warmth. Not a magical barrier woven with mana, or a spacetime distortion field. Just the pure, unmalicious goodwill of an ordinary middle-aged woman carrying a grocery bag. It was a kind of "protection" I had never experienced in my 500 years of life.
Without realizing it, I turned to look at Kevin's mom. She was talking excitedly about tonight's dinner menu, her face showing no hint of what had just happened.
"Oh, Sora, you're here too! Perfect. I bought plenty of tteokbokki rice cakes and fish cakes. Let's all go to our place and have some. You know my cooking, right?"
"Yes! That sounds great, Mrs. Park!" Sora replied, her voice full of excitement, and Kevin let out a sigh of relief. Only I felt like an alien in this bizarre situation. Moments ago, I was about to tap into my sealed magic to deal with an impending threat. But all that tension and resolve had been disarmed by an unfamiliar food called "tteokbokki."
In that moment, I realized something. There was a power in this world that was stronger and more unpredictable than magic. It manifested as "timing," "coincidence," and sometimes, "kindness." And at that very moment, that power had saved a 500-year-old Archmage.
When we stepped into Kevin's apartment again, the delicious scent that greeted us was different from yesterday. Yesterday, it was the savory smell of doenjang stew, but today, it was a spicy yet sweet and strangely appetizing aroma.
"Alright, you kids wash your hands. I'll make it for you right away."
Kevin's mom hummed a tune as she headed to the kitchen. Kevin and Sora, familiar with the routine, went to the bathroom, and I hesitated for a moment before following them. It felt awkward to share the bathroom that I had used alone yesterday. I watched them carefully as they washed their hands, soaping them up, rinsing them under running water, and drying them with a towel. This series of actions, so natural and ordinary to them, was still something I had to learn.
When we came out to the living room, Kevin's dad was sitting on the sofa. He smiled and greeted us.
"Oh, Sora's here too. And Arcane. How was school today?"
"It was great, Mr. Park! Arcane was a total star today!"
Sora excitedly recounted what had happened. How I solved a difficult math problem effortlessly, and how I stunned everyone with my perfect English pronunciation. Kevin chimed in, agreeing with her. I quietly sat on the edge of the sofa, listening to their conversation, feeling as if the persona of "Arcane" was growing beyond my control.
"Is that so? He lost his memory, but his mind must be sharp as a tack. Well, I wasn't too surprised after seeing him solve Kevin's problems yesterday."
Kevin puffed out his chest with pride at his dad's compliment. Last night, Kevin had pestered me to teach him math before he went to sleep. It was annoying, but I couldn't refuse since I was a guest. To me, it was simple arithmetic, but to Kevin, it was a profound mystery. I solved all his questions in a matter of minutes, explaining the essence of the problems, and as a result, Kevin began to see me as a "God of Studying."
"Tada! Tteokbokki is ready!"
Just then, Kevin's mom came to the living room table with a large, steaming pot. The pot was filled with rice cakes and fish cakes coated in a fiery red sauce, along with boiled eggs and ramen noodles. A captivating smell filled the living room.
"Wow! That looks so good!"
Kevin and Sora cheered and rushed to the table. I, however, felt a sense of caution as I saw the red color, a vivid reminder of the kimchi that had tormented me at lunch.
"Arcane, come and sit. I didn't make it too spicy, so you'll be fine."
At her words, I reluctantly sat at the table. We each got a plate of tteokbokki. I cautiously picked up a rice cake with a fork and brought it to my mouth.
The first taste was sweet. But then, a pleasant spiciness followed, tingling on my tongue. It wasn't the painful spice of kimchi. It was a bizarre, addictive umami that made me want to keep eating. The chewy texture of the rice cake, the soft fish cake, and the savory egg—everything was in perfect harmony.
"...It's delicious," I muttered, without realizing it. At my words, Kevin's mom smiled so brightly it was as if she had won the world.
"Really? I'm so glad! Eat a lot, my sons! And Sora!"
The word "sons" made my fork pause. I looked up at Kevin's mom, who was smiling gently at me. Her eyes held no calculation, no suspicion. Only pure affection for the kids she was feeding. It was a mother's warmth I had never felt in 500 years.
That evening, I experienced the joy of a "family" dinner for the first time. The conversation was about school, friends, and TV shows. It was a simple, noisy dinner filled with small talk. In that chaos, I forgot, for a brief moment, the world I had to return to.
After dinner, it was time for Sora to go home.
"Thank you so much for the delicious food, Mrs. and Mr. Park! Kevin, Arcane, see you tomorrow!"
Sora said her goodbyes at the door.
"Leaving already? Arcane, why don't you walk Sora home? It's dangerous at night."
At Kevin's mom's words, the three of us froze.
"What? Oh, no, Mrs. Park! My building is right next to yours!" Sora protested, waving her hands. But Kevin's mom was firm.
"No way. It's a gentleman's duty to walk a lady home. Go on, Arcane."
In the end, I had no choice but to walk Sora home. An awkward silence filled the elevator. I didn't know what to say, and Sora tried to calm her strangely pounding heart.
Under the streetlights of the apartment complex, our shadows stretched out side-by-side. A cool night breeze swept across our cheeks.
"Hey... Arcane," Sora broke the silence.
"Thanks... for today."
"...For what?"
"In front of the school. With Tyler's gang. I felt... safe with you there."
I didn't answer. In truth, I had done nothing. Kevin's mom had saved me.
"Are you… really a guy with amnesia?" Sora suddenly asked. She stopped and looked at me directly. Her eyes, lit by the streetlight, were serious.
"You're too calm for someone who lost their memory. And sometimes... you seem like a different person. Or maybe, from a different world."
It was a sharp observation. I stared at Sora for a moment. This girl was much more perceptive than she seemed. I thought for a moment. How could I answer to avoid suspicion and get past this situation naturally?
I chose the simplest answer that held the most meaning.
"...Maybe."
My ambiguous affirmation made her eyes widen for a moment, then she chuckled.
"What kind of answer is that? You really are weird."
She didn't ask any more questions. But her eyes said, "I'll find out your secret one day."
We had arrived at her building.
"Thanks for walking me home. See you!"
Sora waved and went inside. Left alone, I stared at the door where she had disappeared, then slowly turned around.
On the way back to Kevin's place, I replayed what Sora had said. "From a different world." Maybe she was instinctively sensing that I was a stranger who didn't belong in this world.
A sense of caution rose in me again. I couldn't get too lost in the sweetness of this ordinary life. If my identity was revealed, everything would be over. I thought of the Shadow Cult that was hunting me. I didn't know when or how they would track me to this dimension. I had to find a way to go back before that happened.
As I returned to the apartment, Kevin was waiting for me in the living room. His face was filled with excitement and anticipation.
"Dude, you're back! Perfect. It's Friday night, we can't just go to bed. Let's go to the PC cafe!"
"...A PC cafe?"
A faint frown appeared on my forehead. I remembered the words I had heard at lunchtime. A loud, flashing, bizarre place where everyone stared into a glowing square box and screamed.
"I don't want to."
"Aww, come on! It's so much fun! I'll carry you!"
Kevin grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the apartment. Against my will, my eventful first "Friday Night" was about to begin.