After school ended, I rushed home and hammered away at my old computer, searching the internet for information about this world.
"Whoa..."
The results were a nonstop shock.
I'd known bits and pieces from the novel's knowledge, but seeing it confirmed for real made it even more astonishing.
This world was a love comedy one. It was Korea, but different from the Korea I remembered from my past life.
No, very different.
It was packed with all sorts of contrived settings for the author's convenience. Like polygamy, for example. The reason? So the protagonist could build his harem. There were even net cafes, which didn't exist in Korea back home for various reasons. Since the original work was modeled after a Japanese-style school rom-com. Any realistic issues stemming from that were handwaved away with "novelistic license."
It was almost weirder that I hadn't noticed until now—this world differed from my past life in so many ways. A minor shock was realizing the city I lived in even had a fictional name. Not that I had much excuse; kindergarteners don't memorize detailed addresses or head to bustling downtown spots for fun, after all.
After a while glued to my searches, I flopped onto my bed and closed my eyes. A sudden thought hit me.
Wasn't this actually great? Goodbye to Korea's dull school life. The future stretching before me was a heart-fluttering love comedy world. To enjoy the fun spectacles ahead, I needed to stick close to the protagonist, Yoon Jiu. I hadn't read much of the original, but the main stage was high school. Originally, Yoon Jiu's only childhood friend slot was Lee Sea, so I should subtly wedge myself in there.
That said, in a love comedy world, did that mean giving up on virtual currency?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
What if you entered elementary school again with an adult's brain?
There'd be plenty of upsides. Grades would obviously stay at number one, and you could impress the teachers with a mature demeanor.
But there was one massive downside.
The elementary kids—no, the little brats—you had to spend school life with were so illogical and loud.
At least upper elementary was somewhat tolerable.
But coexisting with fresh first-graders was pure agony.
My original personality—liking quiet, hating hassle—hadn't changed much in this body.
-Pwaaaaah!!
-Kwaaaaah!!
No joke, this was all I could make out from their noise.
'Is this hell?'
From the back of the classroom, Dawn Elementary School Class 1-3's recess looked like a scene from hell.
A week after the entrance ceremony, the brats' amazing social skills had erased all first-meeting awkwardness.
"Hey! Seo Ijin! You're finally up?"
I was deep in serious contemplation of hell, arms crossed, when a peppy voice called from behind.
Even the voice was annoying.
"What."
It was the protagonist, Yoon Jiu.
I'd planned to get close to him, but honestly, I hadn't put in much effort yet.
So why was he calling me so buddy-buddy?
Because this guy's a total social king, that's why.
Being seated at the back lumped me into his group, so naturally, I'd ended up chatting sporadically with Yoon Jiu, Lee Sea, and the girl who was my desk mate, getting friendly that way.
Well, I barely said a word. It was more like proximity made us friends.
For someone like me, who'd agonized over what to even talk about with kids, it was a perfect flow. But apparently, Yoon Jiu and I were total opposites personality-wise.
Glancing back, there was merchant-smile Yoon Jiu grinning ear to ear, and behind him, Lee Sea munching snacks. I'd wondered where they'd gone—must've hit the corner store.
Yoon Jiu and Lee Sea's families knew each other, so they'd been childhood friends practically since birth.
Lee Sea had a quiet personality like mine, not easily swayed by others, so wherever Yoon Jiu went, Lee Sea was always trailing behind.
"What if you sneak out of school during recess?"
"What's the big deal! You wanted to come too, but you were asleep again?"
Elementary classes were too easy and boring, that's why.
"Want some choco pies?"
"Pass."
Crunch. The two plopped down, munching snacks. They already seemed thick as thieves.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Time flew by.
We made some memories here and there, but nothing major happened.
Our houses with Jiu and Sea's—we even took family trips together. Lots happened, and I successfully cemented my spot as their childhood friend.
Oh, if you call it something noteworthy: out of six elementary years, I was in class with that Jiu guy for five.
One year apart, and Sea nearly cried.
Seeing that made me realize I'd grown attached to them too.
Still, since they kept seeking me out at recess, I adapted to elementary life over time and hung out decently.
"Jina, you put Dawn Middle as your first choice, right?"
"Yeah."
Pretty much all the local kids rode the Dawn elementary-middle-high track, and we were no exception.
Anyway, middle school entry meant the first original events would kick off.
A pretty big one where social king Yoon Jiu picks up some introverted traits. I was torn on whether to meddle.
It might drag me in anyway.
We entered middle school, and like fate, the three of us landed in the same class, same seats, passing the days smoothly.
"Drawing again, Ji?"
Debating sleep or doodling, I was scribbling Doraemon in the corner of my notebook from when Jiu and Sea barged into my house yesterday, when Sea spoke up.
Sea, who seemed too shy to even greet others, was totally different with friends.
"You're good.... You seem good at everything, Ji."
At elementary level, it'd be shameful for an adult brain not to ace it.
Saying it now, but this body was pretty high-spec: decent looks, athletic talent. At sports day, I was basically unstoppable.
Afterward, I'd wonder what I was doing around kids and hit sage mode, but taking first in all sorts of events and becoming their idol was a novel experience.
The quiet guy turning beast mode at sports day even got me a few confessions.
I turned them down, of course.
"Just average. I lack the talent for effort."
"Still, you're good at everything. Sports, studies, drawing, singing... You're so cool."
I skipped studying since it was a hassle, but stayed healthy with consistent exercise.
My innate laziness was full throttle, but managing young kept you fit old age.
Not hardcore gym—just morning jogs. Growing bodies need care, or height stalls.
Shaking off distractions, I glanced at Sea. Her shy smile nagged at me, but I kept doodling.
Cute robot cat character complete.
"Where's Jiu?"
"Went to play soccer right after lunch."
"Doesn't even bring his girlfriend along—what's he doing."
"N-No, he's not my boyfriend or anything!"
As if. They'd stuck like glue their whole lives.
Until high school proper rom-com kicked off, they were just destined pair material.
"Sure, sure. Nobody buys it, but whatever you say."
"He really isn't! Jiu's just a friend!"
Sea, blushing while denying it kills your credibility.
-Ding-ding-ding-dong-dang-dong~
Lunch bell rang. Like Pavlov's dog, I face-planted into my desk.
Sleep now or no gaming tonight.
"Sleeping again? Geez, it's wild. You sleep through almost every class, yet always top the ranks."
No study drive, but elementary/middle tests were easy pickings with a skim.
High school might tank my grades, though.
I tuned out the rowdy boys stampeding in, filling the room, and drifted off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
One event from the original's early days, middle school era.
One day, walking home together as always, Yoon Jiu and Lee Sea spot two high school delinquents bullying a kid.
Ever-energetic, justice-driven Yoon Jiu yells at them to stop.
In the real world, they'd ignore him, but this was love comedy land.
For the event, the punks swing fists, beating up Yoon Jiu while Lee Sea watches from afar, bawling.
Thus, peppy Yoon Jiu quiets down a bit. Something like that.
I agonized over meddling with the original—right or wrong?—but decided to step in.
After bonding, watching him get pummeled felt wrong, and seeing traumatized Jiu would guilt me out.
...And that's why I'm telling this story.
Because that exact scene was unfolding right in front of me now.