Chapter 18

Miss Kim Na-yeon—she didn’t seem like someone with this much drive.

Was it the alcohol talking, or was this her normal personality, just repressed by the awkwardness of the situation?

Regardless, she appeared to genuinely have a straightforward and open nature.

Without hesitation, she rummaged through her pouch, pulling out various items before sitting down to my left. To my right sat Lee Si-hyun, and to my left, Kim Na-yeon.

For some reason, an odd sense of anticipation hung over their faces.

“Alright, come here for just a moment. Close your eyes, please.”

“Ah, but… do we really have to do this now?”

“It’s precisely because it’s now that we’re doing it.”

“What? Are you doing makeup in a pork belly restaurant?”

“Tsk. That’s a silly thing to say. Makeup should be done—or adjusted—at any time, anywhere, and that’s the rule.”

“Hey, you guys! Give me a hand here!”

But my classmates disregarded my desperate plea for assistance.

“What if you just let her try?”

“Hey!”

“Come on, Senior. You came here expecting tonight to get wild, right? Then go all out!”

There’s no way I could keep up with this kind of social magnetism.

Where does she even get this much charm from?

I really must have a face that intimidates people, because never in a million years would I have thought Miss Kim Na-yean was this approachable.

“Alright, fine… let go of me already. Seriously… why must we do makeup?”

“Because I want to see what it might look like. Your face even without foundation is that impressive, so how stunning would you look with makeup?”

If it were my younger sister, she’d probably be resisting with threats to not even start. But pushing away a junior who’s genuinely trying to befriend me felt a little too cruel.

…Alright, I’ll sacrifice myself this one time.

An unexpected happening at the pork belly restaurant draws the attention of those around. Sure, I anticipated some stares, but this level of overwhelming handshaking requests exceeded my expectations.

Soon, other female juniors joined in too, proposing things like trying a bit of this or that. Style mavens, they were not—they were simply excited about experimenting.

The expressions on the faces of my classmates watching all of this were quite curious.

Hey, it’s all your fault for not helping me, isn’t it?

—

How much time had passed? The juniors were all high-fiving.

“Wow, this is a masterpiece!”

“Perfect!”

“Wow, seriously, with this look, you could just become an actor!”

“I think this is excessive.”

“Excessive? What are you talking about, Senior? This is beyond excessive—it’s amazing. You have to take a look at the result.”

When I finally looked at the mirror thrust towards me… I understood why the juniors were so amazed.

Oh… Hmm… My face doesn’t even seem like my own anymore.

It’s true that women often fool people with makeup, but isn’t this a bit extreme?

I worried about being hit on by innocent guys declaring their love.

“Wow… if I didn’t know you were a guy, I would’ve fallen for you.”

“Ugh. Don’t even imagine it, please.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You crazy guy.”

“I knew makeup could deceive, but… is this because the base is just really good? It’s incredible regardless.”

Han Tae-hoon was laying it on thick, while Yoo Han-gyeol was scrutinizing my face carefully. It’s creepy, guys.

“Hey, stop staring so much. It’s creepy.”

“In cases like this, isn’t it normal to feel shy?”

“What’s there for me to feel shy about when you’re all staring? It’s just creepy. Especially you, Yoo Han-gyeol. Stop inspecting me like a celebrity’s face.”

“I understand, alright. Honestly, I’ve lived a long time to see this. How did this manly man turn into this?”

“Shut up.”

“Senior, wouldn’t you be perfect for street casting?”

Si-hyun stared silently at my face for a bit before muttering a line.

“Even so, isn’t street casting a bit… outdated?”

“Why? I’ve heard production companies still cast people they spot on the street sometimes.”

“Even then, I doubt anyone sane will try to street cast a mutant.”

“That’s uncertain. There’s no absolute in this world, right?”

“True, true! Wow, maybe we’ll see you in movies, dramas, or fashion magazines someday?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“Right now, it’s already burdensome enough. Feeling that kind of attention for a lifetime? Eek… terrifying.”

“Haha, maybe this is too much of a shock for someone who stays in their room all the time?”

“Indeed, pretty much.”

—

“Still, you look great, man. Stop holed up in your room all the time and get out a little.”

“For a guy like me, it’s too much, too much.”

“You’re mocking antisocial people with that comment!”

“…Am I?”

“Yeah. An antisocial person wouldn’t even attend events like this.”

“Right… you’re right.”

“Also, antisocial people don’t have acquaintances or come out for events like this.”

“Eh, hmm.”

I had no rebuttal. Maybe I am an undercover socialite who unknowingly stole antisocial traits, am I?

But, this is pushing it—I don’t feel like I fit into the socialite category either…

“And antisocial people don’t talk about throwing fire shows at places like these.”

“Right, fire show!”

Just then, Miss Kim Na-yeon, who had been showing off the results of my makeup to the juniors, had an idea.

Not only her—Miss Lee Si-hyun beside me, my classmates, even Nam Su-yeon over there—no one wasn’t expecting it.

“…Wow, it’s really stressful.”

Suddenly, I wasn’t feeling inclined to do it at all.

“Hey, if a man says he’s going to do something, he should follow through.”

“Are you even a man now?”

“Shut up. 24 years as a man can’t be erased by some words—they won’t stick.”

“Hey, what kind of man gets full makeup done like this?”

“These days, even men wear makeup.”

“Ah, stop it. I’m just dying inside… Alright, alright. You want a fire show? Fine. I’ll give you a fire show.”

“About time.”

“Let’s go outside first. If we do it inside, we’ll have a disaster. Either way, we’ve all eaten enough and had enough drinks, right? Is that okay, everyone?”

“Yes! We’ve all eaten well!”

“Then let’s go. I’ll give you a great fire show.”

—

“Oh… didn’t we hear that this guy throws a decent show when the stage is set? Right, Han-gyeol?”

“That’s right.”

“He’ll go all out and then collapse when he gets home.”

“What will he do?”

“I don’t know.”

“Just letting whatever comes out come out, eh Huh Ji-hoon?”

“Eh, it’s fun.”

“Classmates like these… let’s go. If you want to see that fire show so much, I’ll show you a great one.”

“Hey, can you bring out your wings?”

“Only if you’re willing to pay for the dry cleaning.”

“Damn.”

—

Thus, every person attending the orientation moved from the bustling streets to a nearby park just to see my fire show.

Miss Si-hyun had drunk quite a bit, and as her steps seemed unstable, I was supporting her while walking.

“Why on earth does she down so much when she can’t even hold her liquor?”

“Heehee, fire show, fire show.”

But watching her grin with amusement made me think she looked kind of cute. It’s unusual to see such a usually quiet girl so animated.

As we were heading to the park, I received a call from my younger sister.

“Why?”

-Where are you?

“We’re heading to a nearby park.”

-Huh? Why the park?

“The juniors wanted to see a fire show, so I’m going to give them a good one.”

-You really do some crazy things…

“Do you want to come? It’ll be more spectacular than fireworks!”

-…Should I?

“Of course. Even you can’t resist fireworks, right?”

-Mm. I’ll come soon then.

“Are you coming alone?”

-Yes. I don’t plan on advertising that she’s my sister around here.

“Alright then.”

“Who’s that?”

“My sister.”

“Ah…”

“Did I mention my sister to Junior Si-hyun?”

“No.”

“My sister also attends Korea University. Since I told her about the fire show, she’s coming….”

“What does she study?”

“She’s in Business Administration. Anyway, let’s start once my sister arrives.”

The juniors settled down in the middle of the park.

The park had a vast open area, and in order to avoid sparks landing on the grass, we decided to perform near the central fountain.

It felt like I was part of a circus act. But, it wasn’t bad.

Since this kind of experience is rare in my life, just that was enjoyable on its own.

Of course, separately, mental fatigue was increasing.

I might end up exhausted and pass out after heading home tonight, considering tomorrow is Saturday, anyway.

In any case, after sending my sister the exact location, she arrived soon after.

“Hi.”

“You came?”

“Hey. So, when’s the fire show?”

“You were waiting for me?”

“What’s going on? Is this really something you do?”

“I don’t know. Somehow, it just came to this.”

“Wow, there really are all kinds of things with you.”

“Hey, there’s Yun Seo-hyun’s sister? Nice to meet you, I’m Han Tae-hoon, Seo-hyun’s senior.”

“Nice to meet you. My sister really depends on you, right? I’ve heard many stories about her university life from her. You and your classmates have been really kind to her.”

“Wow… Yun Seo-hyun really said that? Anyway, the favor goes both ways. Seo-hyun has helped us a lot too.”

—

The classmates and juniors began showing interest in my sister.

Meanwhile, I was gauging what level of firepower was appropriate. Too many sparks and it might become problematic… spraying upwards toward the sky would be the safest option.

Isn’t this kind of technique called a “breath”?

“Alright, let’s wrap up the chat. I’ll do this only once, so make sure you watch carefully.”

As soon as I mentally prepared to release the flames, a kind of power naturally bubbled up within me.

It felt like my abdomen was brimming with intense heat.

Without hesitation, I unleashed that fire straight into the sky.

KUUUUUUUUUAAA!

The flames shot upward with tremendous force, leaving everyone wide-eyed.

Actually, was this even a mere flame anymore? It felt more like a pillar of fire.

Not just the juniors watching me, the bystanders around the park turned their attention toward me, seeing the fire pillar that pierced through the clouds from my mouth.

Ah… while I kind of expected this, I might have gone a bit overboard.

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